Sunday, 10 February 2013

Walking With Ravens in Hadrian's Country

9th Feb.Sam and I had a walk to explore prior to repeating it in August as an
RSPB Walk.We were joined by my brother
today in the area of Greenhead and Hadrian’s Wall
country.We left a bright North-East and
headed into light drizzle and some mist as we ventured westwards.Both the drizzle and mist was to descend at
times throughout our walk, but in no way enough quantity to spoil the day.We were in an area of much natural, geological
and social history and as my brother knows the area well we were able to make
the most of it.Hopefully the added
interest will attract participants to the walk later in the year.Whilst parking up we saw less than a handful
of people and throughout the walk we saw only wildlife and ourselves.I wasn’t expecting a long list of species
today but did hope maybe that we might see Ravens.

The area was boggy to say the least and it wasn’t long
before our feet were wet.We’d seen a
Kestrel early on. Much of the walk was
on rough boggy ground and with the short, but regular climbs quite tiring.A pair of singing Dippers were soon found and two Roe Deer seen running off above us.Another Dipper territory to
add to our growing list of watched Dipper
territories in Northumberland.I think
Sam may have had a brief sighting of a Merlin.As we left the wooded area we disturbed a Woodcock which gave us a brief sighting
as it noisily flew off.I think a
previous brief sighting of a bird disappearing behind a dip in the land may
have been Woodcock too, but I’m not certain of that one.As we walked across open boggy ground a Common Snipe lifted and flew briefly in
typical zigzag fashion.At this point we
decided to stop for a bit of lunch and take in the view of Wall town Crags, as
they were at times covered in mist then at other times clear.I was beginning to think that we were going
to have no luck with Ravens.

We ended the walk checking out an area of botanical
interest.Well, when I say of botanical
interest, this I think will come later in the year although the signs were
already showing as new vegetation was coming through.I found a single daisy just beginning to
flower.We also found a small area rich
in fossils and spent a bit of time looking at this.

Just before we left the area I heard the high pitched call
of a Goldcrest.We then saw it fly over in front of us and
watched as it moved through the vegetation.As Sam and I stood and chatted we both picked up an unmistakeable
call.We both looked up to find four
calling Ravens flying
southwards.A great way to end the walk
and along with Woodcock, new year ticks for both of us.Unfortunately my brother was engaged in other
business and missed them, but the couple sitting in the car nearby us seemed
interested to note them!I began to
realise just how damp I had become.I
hadn’t really noticed during the walk.There was no wind at all, so the cold wasn’t really felt until we stood
around.My feet began to get steadily
colder now not helped by the dampness in my boots.

We decided to check out a few places on the journey home
which meant a few short diversions through what I feel is some of the wildest
country in Northumberland.Snow still
remained in parts and you could tell that the drifts had been very deep and
still were quite deep in places.During
the day my brother pointed out the growing use of gates rather than stiles in
the area for easy access for all.His
view is that Hadrian had the wall built to keep people out rather than to make
for easy access.He is a bit biased on
this point. :-)We found one gate had
been built oddly enough with a large wooden post carrying wires above.This was right in the centre of the gate
opening.We stopped at Cawfields
Quarry.I don’t remember ever having
been here before, but Sam remembered having seen photographs.There were no birds on the deep water pool
here, but there were some excellent reflections so Sam and I had not taken the
camera gear in vain.We hadn’t used it
during the walk because of the dampness and mist.I learnt that this pool is favoured by
practising divers such is the depth and that they have much to examine
underwater as it is also a favoured pool to dispose of vehicles!It was at this point my brother showed me a large
photograph of a group in the Hexham Courant.It had been taken at night and who should be there but our friend
Holywell Birding.Gazing at the stars I
believe.

Cawfields Quarry Reflections

Next we took a look at the access routes to Greenlee Lough
which included a stop at Steel Rigg in rather different conditions than Sam, Malcolm and
I had experienced when there last year on one of the few very hot days we had
in 2012.Greenlee Lough is on my list of
possible future walks.

Grindon Lough was our next stop.Sam found a Weasel in the dry stone wall here and we had found a Badger set earlier in the day.I counted at least two hundred Canada Geese on the water and they were
eventually joined by sixteen Pink-footedGeese.Other birds seen were numbers of Mallard, Wigeon, a few Teal, Pochard, several Goldeneye and Moorhens.It was a nice way
to end our adventure although not quite the last stop as we pulled in for
refreshment at Hexham before making for home.It had been an all round interesting and rewarding day and Sam and I
began to have some ideas of a photography nature as well as wildlife and walks.It had been really good to have my brother
with us, not least because he had the transport, but more so because of the
different routes of interest he shared with us as a non birder.I was really tired when I got home.

10th Feb.No birding today as I really must try and get some notes put together
for a presentation Sam and I are to give for the first time concerning the pair
of breeding Great Crested Grebes on Killingworth
Lake.It’s to be given for the RSPB LG on Tuesday
12th March and then probably repeated for the WWT at a later
date.We also have some work to do
concerning a walk we are to lead in the area of Spindlestone on Sat 25th
May.This will have a limit set on
numbers participating.I reckon this
could be a really good walk so anyone interested in joining us should make
contact as soon as possible as places are already being taken up.

About Me

''Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”-- Henry Van Dyke.
If you think the common can be as exciting as the rare then this blog may be for you, as it attempts to express my passion for birds and nature. All are part of my daily life and my home patch is all within walking distance of my home, although I often explore wider areas. I ought to be described as a naturalist rather than a birder. I believe that all who take an interest in nature will be well rewarded, but that such rewards ought not to be without reciprocation. My own contribution is made by volunteering, much of which is done in an attempt to help others share in the experience of the natural world. I attempt to reflect my interest in conservation and the fact that I believe the future of a natural world seriously in trouble relies very much relies on an openness of information to all responsible people. Responsible being the key word, and I therefore hope to keep the welfare of wildlife paramount at all times.